Parasites can make your pet miserable, but in severe cases can lead to extensive health complications such as anemia, infection, hair loss, diarrhea, vomiting, respiratory problems, organ failure, and even death. Prevention, recognition, and speedy treatment are the best methods to keep pets and pet parents happy and healthy.

Fleas

Fleas are tiny insects that feed on blood from animals. Not only are fleas a nuisance, but they can also cause tremendous anxiety and disease in both cats and dogs.

All pets in the home should be treated, even if fleas are only seen on one pet, since only 5% of the total flea population in a home is made up of adults. Furniture, bedding, and high traffic areas should be cleaned thoroughly, especially in severe cases.

Prevention options we offer:

• Comfortis (for dogs): A beef-flavored, chewable tablet that treats fleas. Comfortis is given monthly with food. It begins working after 30 minutes. Comfortis contains the active ingredient spinosad, which is derived from natural ingredients. Dow Chemical was awarded a Green Chemistry Award for the development of spinosad, which is also a popular tool for organic farming.
• Advantage (for cats): A topical liquid that treats fleas, it is given monthly on the back of the neck. It kills adult fleas on the cat within 12 hours. Larval fleas in the cat’s surroundings are killed following contact with the cat.
• Advantix (for dogs): A waterproof, topical liquid that treats fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. It is given monthly along the back and the neck. Not recommended for dogs who are in close contact with cats.
• Ectopamine (for cats and dogs): A naturally-derived “minimum risk” topical liquid for flea, tick, and mosquito control. Typically applied monthly, but can be applied as often as weekly in acute cases.
• Diatomaceous Earth (for cats and dogs): A human-grade dietary additive that can be given topically as well as orally. Treats fleas, ticks, mites and lice when administered externally. It is effective against hookworms, pinworms, and roundworms when administered daily by mouth.

Heartworm

Heartworm disease, caused by the parasite Dirofilaria immitus, is a serious and life-threatening infection. Mosquitoes transmit heartworm larvae during blood feeding. The larvae matures in the subcutaneous tissue and migrates to the blood vessels. Adult heartworms can live in the host for several years and treatment options are not without risk. Monthly prevention and a yearly blood parasite screen are the best defense against heartworm disease. A blood parasite screen can be done in just a few minutes by testing a small sample of your pet’s blood in our lab. For more about heartworm disease, visit the American Heartworm Society’s Website.

Prevention we offer:

• Iverheart Plus: a flavored, chewable tablet given monthly to dogs and puppies as young as 6 weeks old. Prevents heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms.

Other Internal Parasites

Tapeworms, Whipworms, Roundworms, and Hookworms are internal parasites that can lead to a number of symptoms, such as weight loss, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction, blood loss, vomiting, and even death. Fortunately, these internal parasites can be identified through an in-house laboratory test. Identifying which internal parasite a pet has ensures the most appropriate de-wormer is administered.